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l2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. BLACK. GRAIN DRIBR.

(No Model.)

No, 389,048. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

Attorney N. PETERS. Phelorumugmpher. wasringxm D. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. BLACK. GRAIN DRIBR.

(No Model.)

Patsnted Sept. 4, 1888.

ttorney WITNESSES N. PErEna PholoLuhngmnmr, wzmingmn. n.6,

UNTTED STATES PATENT EriceG JOI-IN BLACK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JEFFERSON T. RAPLEE, OF SAME PLAGE.

GRAIN- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,048I dated September 4, 1888.

Application filed October 5, 1887. Serial No. $251,539. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oI-IN BLACK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Driers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings is a transverse section of my improved grain-drier. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of same. Fig. 3 is a detail section of chain, showing Scrapers I1n. Fig. -1 is a plan or top View of chain.

The invention relates to improvements in grain-driers, being especially adapted to drying barley or brewers grain for the use of brewers; and it consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter described,illustrated in the drawings,and pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the casing of the machine, made preferably of boiler-iron, and triangularin vertieal longitudinal section, the end surfaces converging upward at equal angles to the horizontal top a, to which is attached near one end the ue B, adapted to be attached by tub` ing to a suitable exhaust-fan, and near the opposite end the feed-hopper Z) for the grain.

C is a delivery-chute opening from the bottom plate of the machine freni a point below the discharge end of the lowest drier or grainplatform. The exhaust-flue B is provided with 4o a suitable valve or damper, b', to out off or lessen the current from the casing when necessary.

D D are a number of equal horizontalsteamchambers extending from near the top to near 45 the bottom of the casing, and nearly from side to side thereof, each of said chambers extending outward at both ends to equal distances beyond the chamber next above, for purposes hereinafter explained. The upper plates, d, of

5o the steam-chambers form the grain-platform,

and are provided on their side edges with the vertical flanges d to retain the grain upon them. The steam-chambers are of boiler-iron thick enough to stand a pressure of about one hundred and twenty-tive pounds to the square inch, and extend to equal distances from the ends of the casing, so that the only direct airdrafts are up between the casing and the ends of the steam-chambers.

E is a vertical steam-pipe, receiving steam 6o froxnanypropersourse ofsu ppl y,and provided with branch pipes F, that convey steam to each of the steam-chambers D. These branch pipes F are provided `with cut-off valvesf, so that nthe iiow of steam to euch chamber can be graduated or eut oli` entirely when necessary.

G is a vertical exhaust-pipe, preferably on the other side and near the opposite end of the casing from the steam-pipe E, and H H are branch pipes connecting the steam-chambers 7o and exhaust-pipe, and provided with the cutoff valves 7L. By means of the valvesf and h the flow of steam can be regulated through each chamber separately, as the necessities of the operation require, or the steam may be accumulated in each or any chamber until the pressure therein reaches the desired point.

I I are two long pulleys on a shaft, i, recciving motion from any suitable motor, and journaled in bearings on suitable supports.

J J designate a number of sets of pulleys on shaftsjj, situated between 'the opposite ends of each steam-chamber and the adjacent end of the casing, the pulleys J being on the opposite side of the casing from the pulleys J. The shaftsjj are journaled in bearings in the sides of the casing, and the pulleys .I J are secured on their respective shafts outside of the casing and at different distances therefrom, so that the belts K K', by means of which the 9o said pulleys receive motion from the pulley I, will not interfere with each other.

The belts K extend from the pulley I to the pulleys J on the shafts j, and crossed belts K from the pulley I rotate the pulleys J on the shafts j in a direction opposite to that of the pulleys J L L are sprocket or chain wheels on the shafts j j within the casing, and M M are chains connecting each pair ot' sprocket-wheels roo and moving over the grain-platforms d. The sprocket wheels and chains are arranged in equidistant pairs corresponding with each steam-chamber.

It is evident from the foregoing that the chains move in opposite directions over each succeeding platform, so that the grain in its descent is carried from end to end of the casing.

The chains are provided with equidistant cross-bars or Scrapers m m, and the chains of ro each pair move adjacent to the opposite vertical retaining-flanges d of the corresponding platform d.

The machine is provided with the necessary bearing supports for the shafts, the pillowi 5 blocks, and other necessary and ordinary parts,`

which may vary in shape, position, and number according to circumstances, and which, as they fall within the scope of ordinary workmanship, are not patentable elements, except 2o when they are necessary to a new and useful purpose.

The method of operation is as follows: The grain to bedried is poured in through the hopper and carried thenceby the highest chain over the highest grain-platform by the described means. At the end of therst platform it falls on the extension of the second platform and is carried by the second chain in the reverse direction, falling on the thirdplatform, and so 3c on till it is delivered from the last platform into the discharging chute. As the grain descends it becomes drier and loses part of its moisture in the form of steam, and the said steam,being heated, ascends and converges and 3 5 concentrates over the high estand shortest platform the greatest amount of heat where the heat is most needed-that is, at the topof the casing, where it immediately prevents or stops the fermentation of the grain, the grain being 4o there in its coolest and most moist condition. v

In fact, the upward narrowing of the casing, in connection with the exhaust therefrom, .causes the air and steam to pass more quickly over each platform from below upward, and the said air and steam become more heated as they ascend, because they receive successively the heat from the platforms. This action is equivalent to passing more and hotter air over thesuccessively higher platforms during the same time. The increased length of the successive platforms as they descend permits a free and direct upward escape of heated steam from the `grain at the discharge end of each platform after it has passed over the latter,which steam as it rises radiates its heat to the grain on the y, successive platforms, but carries its moisture with it, so as not to interfere with the drying of the grain.

The described action would be impossible if the casing were rectangular and not narrower sively increasing in length, the lower chest extending at its ends beyond the chest or chests above it, the upper plates of said chests forming grain-platforms and having the flanged sides, and the mechanism described, whereby the grain is moved in opposite directions to the discharge-chute, substantially as specified. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN BLACK. Witnesses:

J. T. RAPLEE, IsABELLA BLACK. 

